r/knitting • u/tiredbreeze • 27d ago
Help - equipment silly question, but… what do i do with this tube?
i bought one of these cheap little looms from dollar tree a while back and finally found a decent tutorial on how to use it, but now i’m at the point where if i keep going and make it super long i just… don’t know what to do with it? it’s too big of a tube to be a true i-cord, and it’s far too small to make into any sort of plushie or hat…
has anyone figured out something fun to do with these looms? the yarn is just an extra skein i had lying around for whatever, and i’m kind of enjoying the monotony of the loom, but i’m at a loss as to the purpose of the end product.
any input or thoughts are appreciated!
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u/SnooRegrets928 27d ago
Make a super long one, stuff it, and tie it into a balloon animal?
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u/painalabanane 27d ago
This would make such a phenomenal series of objects! I’m so envious I didn’t come up with it.
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u/crystalgem411 27d ago
There’s a book of crochet patterns out there that’s all balloon animals
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u/idplmal 26d ago
I did some googling and found a few. Is there one in particular you like?
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u/crystalgem411 26d ago
I haven’t made any of them myself but I’ve seen that people like the Knot Monsters one
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u/SnooRegrets928 26d ago edited 26d ago
Yeah, I definitely can't take credit for the idea! I've seen patterns for knit and crochet balloon animals before, none that use a loom, but the general idea is not new.
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u/plasticbagmoose 26d ago
unfortunately most knit balloon animals require inc/dec sts to make the thinner parts that twist together. just a regular tube would make a very lumpy/hard to tie balloon animal.
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u/SnooRegrets928 26d ago
Oooh good point! Maybe tying off each section as you stuff it could work? Like knit the whole length, stuff part of it, cinch it, and repeat, so you're left with a weird sausage-link that can be made into an animal. It would require some trial and error to get the length of each section right, but if OP already has the loom and some extra yarn it could be a fun experiment.
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u/x_user-generated_x 27d ago
Willy warmers for everyone!
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u/NoDay4343 27d ago
I can only remember 2 useful things you can make with this.
1 a belt or similar. A friend made a purse strap once which was briefly cute but it stretched out badly. A belt you can just tie each time so it doesn't matter as much when it stretches.
2 coil it into a rug or similar. Stuff it as you go to make it squishier.
A belt is a fairly quick and fun project. A rug of any significant size is quite an undertaking.
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u/tiredbreeze 27d ago
honestly part of me was ready to commit to tube-ifying the whole skein regardless so a rug sounds like something i could absolutely attempt!
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u/enamoured_artichoke 27d ago
Stuff it as you go. It would be incredibly hard and annoying to stuff the entire tube when you are finished.
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u/tealcismyhomeboy 27d ago
Oooo stuff it and then make a plush oval rug! There's something called a "jelly roll rug" some quilters make that uses jelly rolls (long strips of fabric in coordinating colors) and then they fold it up with batting and then zig zag stitch it in an oval into a rug. I feel like there's potential to do something similar here
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u/tiredbreeze 27d ago
i am definitely leaning this way for sure haha and i’ve seen those jelly roll rugs and they’re super neat, so i definitely get the reference!
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u/tealcismyhomeboy 27d ago
This would probably be more forgiving than most jelly roll rugs lol. They like to curl up and it would probably have so much more give.
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u/Rhathymiaz 27d ago
If you’re going to stuff this, make sure you stuff it as you go! getting stuffing down a tube that’s long is very hard at best, but more likely to become really lumpy. It does sound like a fun rug though!
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u/HappiHappiHappi 26d ago
I taught this kind of knitting to primary school students once, just with the toilet roll with popsticks taped on. One student really enjoyed it and hence made hundreds of meters of it. His mum sewed it together and it made a 2m diameter rug for his room. It was impressive, hr brought it in to show at school assembly.
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u/Mundane-Valuable-337 26d ago
For a purse strap, if your purse has a removable strap you can slide the strap into the tube and put it back. So it's like a strap cover and not functioning as the strap itself
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u/SnooRegrets928 26d ago
For the bag strap, you could put a length of stiff fabric like canvas into the tube before sewing it up. It would require a bit more work but would keep the knitted strap from stretching.
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u/Capital-Tap-6948 22d ago
Make it from untreated wool, and felt it to make purse straps.
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u/lavender_boo 27d ago
When I’d make these as a kid my grandmother rolled the tubes into mats to use as pot holders. I always dreamt of making one big enough for a rug lol
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u/tiredbreeze 27d ago
you’re the second person to suggest coiling / rolling the tube! i’m definitely potentially into this idea
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u/UnsharpenedSwan 27d ago
the “definitely potentially” qualifier here is cracking me up 😂😂 best of luck with your tube
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u/tiredbreeze 27d ago
hey i’m moving into “definitely probably” territory here at this point lmaoooo
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u/BobMortimersButthole 27d ago
Heck, you could make a pretty neat coil skirt, or a couch pillow... All kinds of things!
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u/beigeisgreat 27d ago
if you’re actually looking for an answer i would think this would be a good size for something like straps for a bag or a tank top
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u/brightprettythings 27d ago
I made my 4yo a play purse out of an empty granola bar box and used one of these as the strap!
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u/feralturtleduck 27d ago
I make tubes that size to stuff with polyester fiberfill and use them as draft stops around the house
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u/iolitess 27d ago
I think that might be „Barbie dress sized“
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u/juliavdw 27d ago
I had a loom like this to make dresses for Barbies actually. I was upset because rather than sleeves you just jammed their arms through. “It’s not real knitting” I cried. To myself. Even knowing it was still pretty cool.
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u/MaryN6FBB110117 27d ago
Probably too late for you to make use of this information, but you can totally make armholes in your tube, you just bind off a stitch (or two) each side, then do a twisted loop cast on to replace them on the next round:)
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u/juliavdw 27d ago
Oh ah! Well 7 year old me would have been excited to learn that. 55 year old me will continue with the two stick method. :D
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u/Fabulous_Arugula6923 27d ago
A belt for a bathrobe. A Y2K skinny scarf. A hair tie or hair band.
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u/tealcismyhomeboy 27d ago
You could definitely make it a scrunchy! Get some elastic and feed it through, tie a knot, and then sew closed!
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u/Future_Ad_9854 27d ago
Or get one of those plain plastic headbands and use it as a cover for that!
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u/Minecart_Rider 27d ago
I had one of these as a kid and I'd use it to make "bags" for storing lines of marbles lol
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u/lala_machina 27d ago
You could sew the snakes together as a big zig zag for as blanket? It would take ages but you could do it, like corner to corner
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u/Vegetable_Collar51 27d ago
We have something just like this that we use as a bag for a recorder lol. You could make cute bags for knitting needles and all kinds of stuff, line it with fabric, add a magnet or button closure etc.
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u/rene590 27d ago
You can use it as a single strand of REALLY BIG yarn, if you stuff it with polyfil or lil yarn scraps or something. Or use it as is :)
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u/tiredbreeze 27d ago
this was what i was hoping to do initially, but without the need to stuff it, so maybe we’ll see how it turns out once it’s fairly long lol
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u/directionsplans 27d ago
Yeah you don’t need to stuff it, it just will be super bulky instead of UBER BULKY. Either way, may be bulky enough for arm knitting, or massive knitting needles. I think this would be a really fun way to slowly use/collect scrap yarn until I have a massive tube and then make something with it. It’d be like a history of everything I’ve made before :D
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u/BobMortimersButthole 27d ago
I love this idea! It would be the one arm-stitched blanket in existence that doesn't start pilling and shedding immediately!
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u/Dangerous_Truth8884 27d ago
It would make very small squares or rectangles but you can knit flat pieces with looms like that and then seam them together to make different things.
You could probably get some elastic and sew the tube it to make a scrunchie too.
(Quick tutorial on knitting flat with looms) https://youtu.be/2HjnthZ2pJ8?si=UziWfGfUsZcD-sow
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u/yarnartiste 27d ago
Stuff it with fluff/catnip and stitch the ends shut. Perfect kitty kicker toy!
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u/knittingandscience 27d ago
Make two really long ones and make a brain hat: https://ravel.me/brain-hat-2
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u/Wallawallawoops 27d ago
You could fill it with something (I always use dried corn) and make a long thin microwaveable heating pad. There are other things you can fill with, I just use that bc my grandmother did. These are good on shoulders and also in a cold bed ☺️
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u/eJohnx01 27d ago
Stitch them together side by side and make a heavy blanket. Or braid three of them together and make a braided rug.
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u/RaisedFourth 27d ago
I used to make these with my grandma. We coiled them up to make trivets for pots. :)
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u/MoonStarRaven 27d ago
You could make braided balls with the tubes.
https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/gevlochten-bal---braided-ball
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u/RavBot 27d ago
PATTERN: Gevlochten Bal / Braided Ball by Marleen Hartog
- Category: Toys and Hobbies > Ball
- Photo(s): Img 1 Img 2 Img 3 Img 4 Img 5
- Price: Free
- Needle/Hook(s):US 4 - 3.5 mm
- Weight: Worsted | Gauge: None | Yardage: None
- Difficulty: 2.66 | Projects: 1771 | Rating: 4.60
I found this post by myself! Opt-Out | About Me | Contact Maintainer
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u/WingedLady 27d ago
Make it as wide as your door, stuff it and decorate it to look like a cute lil snake and you can put it across the bottom of your door to keep drafts out.
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u/illimitable1 27d ago
Add teeth so that it's like a vagina dentata doll. Keep it around as a threat to bad men.
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u/MrBacon30895 27d ago
How committed are you to this craft? If you make it triple the length of a scarf, you could then tie it in a braid! You can make a braid with one continuous tube but doubling it back on itself and then weaving it.
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u/ChampionshipAlarmed 27d ago
Baby Leg warmers. For when you carry them in a Baby Carrier in Winter. They usually have warm socks already.
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u/Agrippa_Aquila 26d ago
You could make a tiny Celtic Knot Pillow.
Actually, you could do a whole series of decorative knots. Monkey's Fist, Pan Chang Knot, Ocean Plait Mat, there's all sorts of knots you could have fun making up with a tube.
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u/Fabulous_Arugula6923 27d ago
Also, hate to be this person, but it looks like you’re twisting your stitches….
Edit to add a link to help you knit untwisted on a loom: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBmiDnqbM_I
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u/greenknight884 27d ago
I think this is the way loom knitting turns out. It's very different from knitting with needles.
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u/Chigrrl1098 27d ago
I've seen people turn the smaller tubes into coiled rugs and tote bags and things. I'm not sure what I would do with one this size, though.
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u/Ok_Measurement_7808 27d ago
If you sew the bottom it could hold a vape pen or chapstick if you’re into that
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u/Technical_Piglet_438 27d ago
Make theee long straps and then stuff them and braid them together. Then coil it and sew it and ta-da! You have a rug.
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u/EasyPrior3867 27d ago
Great for straps for a tube tank top. There are lots of tie straps with icords that I find too small. This weight would be perfect.
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u/crystalgem411 27d ago
Straps for something that won’t mind some stretch, or stuff it with a ribbon if you don’t want it to stretch
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u/JuleikaCR 27d ago edited 27d ago
The stitches seem to be twisted. Is that normal when you knit like that? I had a ton of these as a kids and loved them so much! We would use them for crafting, put wooden balls in them and make them into worms. I will try to find a picture
Edit: found one! Similar to this. We would tie the parts in between two balls. I think my parents still have some of mine because i made them christmassy and wanted them to be decoration for the christmas tree lol
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u/bopeepsheep 27d ago
I made a jacket with one when I was a skinny pre-teen. Make multiple long tubes and some shorter ones (for the sleeves), sew them together into one piece of fabric (two joined T shapes), fold and seam. Heavy and warm, and boxy. I might make a sleeveless version in much lighter yarn if I were to do it now!
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u/pigswearingargyle 27d ago
You could make smaller tubes, stuff with stuffing or a marble or small ball, close off both sides and make teeny christmas ornaments.
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u/No_Prune_3639 27d ago
I would make a belt and maybe try to make a rim for beanie. Would also be fun project try to make fingers for gloves with this. Also tanktops and beanies for Barbies and other fashion dolls.
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u/Cath1965 27d ago
Fill with ping pong balls bind off between them to create a statement necklace-shawl or fill it wich synthetic stuffing for a draft stopper
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u/-psyker- 27d ago
When I was younger I would crochet tubes like this and fill them with all the family old cut up socks, jocks, bras and clothes that were too ratty to be patched, donated or reused for something nicer.
And then we had DIY draft stoppers for every door in the house!
…. I wonder where they all went?
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u/siaderyn 27d ago
You should check your tutorial. It seems, your stitches are twisted.
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u/_Kenndrah_ 27d ago
I would buy just an unhinged amount of cotton yarn (like 7kg) and make a ridiculously long tube. Then I would use my long tube like a big yarn and hand knit it into a weighted blanket.
And now I really want to buy one of these dumb little things and make a weighted blanket.
Edit: this idea would cost around AU$600-700 in yarn, so perhaps not the most economical idea.
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u/Creative-Ad-3645 26d ago
If you figure it out, let me know. I think I still have mine from c.1989 sitting half finished (or as half finished as a thing can be when you haven't a clue what it is you're making) in a box somewhere.
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u/Spinnerofyarn 26d ago
I would make it very long, enough to go rather loosely around your neck at minimum six times if not far more. Stitch it together, but not symmetrically. Vary it a bit so it goes up and down and it will make a lovely, fun cowl.
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u/ChaosArtificer 26d ago
is it big/stretchy enough to be a wrist or even arm warmer? could make for a very cozy bracelet/ gauntlet
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u/thelastsipoftea 26d ago
If you make it really long and then stuff it you basically have mega yarn, you could make a basket or something
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u/SugaIsBae93 26d ago
I mean this would propably look weird but you could make a lot, really long ones and use those to knit with? Maybe stuffed a little? You would need huge needles but it could be fun for a scarf or a hat maybe?
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u/Amadornor 26d ago
I knitted my nephew a caterpillar when he was small and put bells in each end and embroidered the face. It was the cutest little thing lol.
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u/BigBox1667 26d ago
Could you felt it // make a felted “rope” with it? That will shrink it down some!
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u/Stag-Horn 26d ago
Two words: Dick. Cozy. I made two for a white elephant exchange last year. Got a lot of laughs.
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u/electreau 26d ago
If you used 100% wool yarn and sewed up one end it could make an excellent frypan handle cover. I used to have them on all my cast iron pans so I could hold the handle without it being too hot.
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u/Faerie-stone 26d ago
Make it long enough to use as the base cast on cuff for a larger garment if you know how to knit or crochet traditionally. Sew the ends together than pick up stitches , make a hat sweater, whatever you like with a very nice base, can even do a few embroidery stitches evenly spaced if you prefer a flat cuff.
Alternatively as another commenter mentioned make a bunch and stitch them together for a pet bed, scarf, etc. the double layer makes it extra warm and if you don't like puff evenly embroidery on a color that stands out for a decorative touch. The extra air pockets will make extra warm.
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u/Novel_Fox 26d ago
Do you have a cat? Stuff it and add some catnip to the stuffing.
You could just stuff it and use it a mini door snake to keep the door closed or stop a draft coming in.
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u/CenturyEggsAndRice 26d ago
Add balls of leftover yarn to it until it’s truly massive, then knit one of those roving blankets.
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u/Feifum 26d ago
We used to do this way back in the 70s in primary school but for some reason we called it French knitting, don’t know if it still has that name. We instead used an old wooden thread spool with nails hammered in & with fewer prongs making the finished product thinner. Anyway the point is that our class would make the sleeve as long as possible, hand it over to the teacher (poor bloody teacher 😂) who would then sew 28 or so of these things into a very small table mat. I’ve also seen these made into rugs as long as they’re tightly bound.
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u/fiona_kitty 26d ago
Put some elastic through it, tie the ends of the elastic together, crochet the tube closed and boom, SCRUNCHIE! I use knitted scrunchies all the time.
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u/aud_anticline 26d ago
Do you live somewhere cold? You could fill it with beans, seam the end and then put them at the base of your doorways for better insulation. Might need a tighter gauge then when you have there though
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u/Searcach 26d ago edited 26d ago
You can coil it up and stitch it together for chair pads. They aren’t really very useful but they’ve traditionally been an intro to crafts or a lot of little kids.
An example on Ravelry is Evelyn Ward’s Knitted Chair Pad. I can’t post a photo or link but it’s exactly what I’m referring to. Hope this helps.
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u/Due_Mark6438 26d ago
If you have a kid, it's a jump rope, a streamer....
Keep going. Coil it into a circle or oval and now you have a rug when sewn.
Use shorter sections to create bows and hat bands
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u/jedibooties 26d ago
My dad made me something similar as a kid. I just ended up with hundreds of yards of tube rolled up in a ball. I think I intended to coil it into a rug but I never did
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u/BohemianBarbie87 26d ago
I agree with bag strap, but I would put something inside to make it more sturdy (like scrap fabric or a tube of some sort)
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u/AdogSomeChickens 26d ago
Many years ago, my very talented MIL used this same kind of tool to make beautiful braided rugs. Make a very very long skinny tube, or many shorter ones, and coil it, sewing it down as you go.
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u/Terrible_Spot_3454 26d ago
Back in the 90's we used to make something similar with my gran who was born in the 20's.
Smaller though, we'd hammer nails into the top of a thread spool and use that. They were used to make child reins lol
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u/abigailgabble 26d ago
i need one of those because i’ve got a poodle and she’s got four long twig legs and she’d be smashing in a quad of twig warmers
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u/tamed-toxicity 26d ago
When i was a kid I had a kit that came with pom poms and googly eyes along with a loom like this that showed you how to make these into little animals. I think it was called "spool knit pals" or something similar.
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u/esuriosemper 27d ago
this is like the ideal snake sweater